Epizootiological and molecular characterization of equine influenza virus 2008 outbreak in Egypt

Equine influenza symptoms were detected in population of equines in different governorates in Egypt [Cairo, Giza, Helwan, Alexandria, Minoufia, Behaira, Assiut and Aswan] during July - August 2008. High temperature, inappetence, conjunctivitis, redness of nasal mucosa, serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge and a harsh dry cough were the most common clinical manifestations. Horses of all ages and both sexes were affected. Free movement of the infected animals and direct contact at markets and races facilitated the rapid spread of the disease. Nine suspected cases represented eight governorates were examined for equine influenza virus [EIV] where 107 nasal swabs and 107 serum samples were used for diagnosis. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions [rRT-PCR] assay was applied todetect the matrix [M] gene of influenza type A viruses in nasal swabs and 6 out of the 8 cases were positive. Three cases were positive by virus isolation on embryonated chicken egg inoculation and the hemagglutination test. The hemagglutination inhibition [HI] was performed to identify the isolated influenza virus using reference antisera against A/Equi-1 [H7N1] and A/Equi-2 [H3N8].In this study, full characterization of the isolated virus was carried out through molecular techniques for typing of hemagglutinin [HA] and neuraminidase [NA] genes by RT-PCR and partial sequencing of the HA gene of one isolate [A/Equine/Egypt/21 AHRI/2008[H3N8]] and the results confirmed that H3N8 virus was the causative agent of this outbreak

Microbial pollution of air inside slaughter houses

A total of 40 air samples were collected from 3 slaughter houses located at Giza [15], Damanhour [10] and Alexandria [15] and examined microbiologically. The average total bacterial count, coliform count and fecal Strept. count were 1400 +/- 306.4, 201 +/- 16.4, 140.02 +/- 32.1 and 84.3 +/- 19.2 bacteria/L, respectively. The isolated bacteria were Staph. aureus [15%], Strept. pyogenes [7.5%], Coryneb. pyogenes [2.5%], Coryneb. renale [7.5%], Coryneb. bovis [10%], E. coli I [37.5], Strept. bovis [17.5%], Strept. faecium [22.5%], Strept. durans [25%], Pseudomonas aeroginosa [20%], Prot. morganii [27.5%], Prot. mirabilis [32.5%], Prot. vulgaris [37.5%] and Arizona spp. [2.5%]. On the other h and, the isolated fungi were Aspergillus niger [15%], Aspergillus flavus [10%], Mucor spp. [20%], Penicillium spp. [25%], C and ida albicans [17.5%], Alternaria [15%], Rhizopus [22.5%] and Fusarium [12.5%]. The hygienic significance of each isolate was discussed

Incidence of Salmonella species in surface water in Behera and Alexandria provinces

Sixty water samples were collected from surface water ways in Behaira and Alexandria provinces. They were examined for the possible isolation of Salmonella species using elevated temperature technique. The different species of isolated Salmonella organisms were Salmonella typhimurium [5%], Salmonella enteritidis [6.66%], Salmonella montevideo [3.33%], Salmonella anatum [3.33%], Salmonella thompson [5%] and Salmonella agona [3.33%]

role of ticks in transmitting some pathogenic microorganisms

Ticks were collected from 90 cattle [57 dairy cows, 18 heifers and 15 bull calves] and examined for the isolation of pathogenic microorganisms, which could be transmitted to the infested animals. The isolated pathogenic bacteria were Corynebacterium renale and bovis, Proteus vulgaris and mirabilis, E. coli I, Salmonella bovis morbificans, Streptococcus bovis and faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella multocida. On the other h and, the isolated fungi were Aspergillus niger, flavus and fumigatus, Penicillium spp., Mucor spp. Rhizopus spp., Alternaria spp., Geotrichum spp., Cryptococcus and C and ida tropicalis